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Bison Auction upcoming at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

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Guest Columnist
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On Nov. 1, 2023, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will hold a public auction for surplus bison from Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and the Sandsage Bison Range. The auction will begin at 11 a.m. and take place at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge – 6 miles north of Canton in McPherson County. Bidding and non-bidding parties are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge is managed specifically to preserve the area’s prairie heritage. As such, herds of bison and elk are maintained, both species that are native to Kansas grasslands. However, because the Refuge can support only a certain number of animals, surplus bison are occasionally sold at a public auction.

A combined total of 62 bison will be auctioned this year, including:

  1. 10 – Cows
  2. 10 – Yearling Heifers
  3. 12 – 2-yr-old Bulls
  4. 11 – Yearling Bulls
  5. 9 – Bull Calves
  6. 10 – Heifer Calves

Heifer calves older than 6 months will be vaccinated for brucellosis and certificates issued.

Those interested in bidding may preregister by filling out the bidder registration form and emailing it to [email protected]. Registration will also be available on site.

Buyers must pick up bison on the day of the sale or make arrangements with the refuge manager prior to the sale. Animals become the buyer’s responsibility upon settlement on auction day.

Load-out assistance is available until dusk on the day of the auction. Trailers should be covered or lined, as bison transport best in dark conditions.

Cash and personal checks (if accompanied by a notarized authorization letter from the issuing bank) will be accepted.

KDWP reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

For questions regarding the auction, contact Maxwell Wildlife Refuge manager Cliff Peterson at (620) 628-4592 or the KDWP Pratt Operations Office at (620) 672-0797.

For more on Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, including tour information, click HERE.

For more on the Sandsage Bison Range, click HERE.

Pumpkin Dessert

By
Debbie Dance Uhrig
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I got a nice email from my friend, Linda, reminding me about potato cakes (earlier column) in Ireland. Of course, potatoes are prominent in Ireland, and every wife to be, best know how to make ‘Boxty’, which is the same dish as potato cakes here in America. It reminds me once again how many of the foods we enjoy, originated in other countries first. Including the influence of the potato cakes/’Boxty’ during the great depression. Thanks for sharing that story last week, Linda!

I’m starting to think I’ve slipped back to the 1980’s in the past month to six weeks. I keep featuring recipes that were prominent in this era. Today I’m sharing a version of a multi-layered dessert that made its debut in the mid 1980’s. I had just started teaching in the early 80’s and some of my seniors were graduating. I was invited to many graduation parties and this dessert was served at many of the gatherings. Two weeks ago, I also made a cherry salad based on cherry pie filling and Eagle Brand milk. It too was at many of the graduate buffets in the 80’s. I’m beginning to wonder what recipe is going to pop back next, from this era.

Since graduations were normally the spring, I usually enjoyed this recipe with a chocolate or a lemon filling. But for fall the pumpkin is just perfect. In fact, I don’t want to tell my husband, Ervin, I’m sharing this dish because it’s one of his all-time favorites. I may have to make him this, in the near future, and approach it with a low-sugar version, which is possible. The recipe is filled with plenty of guidelines and suggestions for you.

This weekend wrapped up another move for our OACAC offices. I thought two years ago we were in our forever home, but it wasn’t to be. My entire family helped the office move over the weekend. Everyone is pretty exhausted this evening and ready for some down-time. I keep making lists to go pick up one thing or the other. Tomorrow the staff will be picking out flooring, and trying to put the office back together one more time. The best part of all this is looking forward to a 3-day weekend this coming week! We will be heading to Fort Scott, Arkansas to celebrate a ‘first’ birthday party with our family.

If you’re going to make one of these desserts, why not make 2 and take one to the office, Bible study, meetings or the neighbors! With that said, this very tired ‘office mover’ is ready to embrace her pillow. Enjoy the beauty that surrounds us, friends. Simply yours, The Covered Dish.

Layer Dessert Pumpkin

Crust
1 cup ground ginger snap crumbs
1/4 cup roasted pecans
1/4 cup melted butter

Cream Layer
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/3 of the ‘Fall Whipped Cream’ recipe, below

Pumpkin layer
1 (3-3.5oz.) package instant pumpkin pudding
1 3/4 cups half and half

Fall Whipped Cream, divided
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 teaspoons maple flavoring/extract
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Melt butter and mix into the pecans and ginger snap crumbs. Sprinkle into the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking dish and pack down. At this point you can bake the crust if you desire, however; I have found that it also works nicely without the baking process. The bake time would be 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, should you choose to bake the crust.

Move to the pumpkin layer next, preparing the pudding as directed on the box, using the half and half as indicated, for the dairy. Mix and allow to firm.

Prepare the fall whipped cream with a mixer. As the whipped cream begins to firm, gradually add the powdered sugar and flavoring. Whip until peaks hold firmly. Set to the side momentarily.

Prepare the cream layer by thoroughly softening the cream cheese and mixing in the powdered sugar. Lastly, using a soft spatula fold in one-third of the whipped cream recipe, to complete the layer. Carefully spread over the crumb crust.
Usually, you can move right on to the pumpkin layer placing it carefully over the cream mixture. However, if desired you could refrigerate or even freeze the cream portion, for a ‘short’ while to firm up the base, before applying the pumpkin layer.

To complete spread the remaining whipped cream over the pumpkin layer. For a topping there are many ideas. Sprinkle additional ginger crumbles over the top or even a portion of a cookie into each serving. Chopped pecans sprinkled or candied nuts, over the top. Refrigerate until serving time.

This is a rich dessert, so large pieces aren’t really necessary. Expect to serve
6-8 persons from an 8 x 8 pan.

If you remember this dessert you will recall it gained great popularity in the 1980’s. There were so many versions of the format: chocolate, lemon, cherry, banana, coconut etc. Every function you attended layered desserts seemed to be present.

Spooky Scary Kansas

By
Guest Columnist
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With the coming of the pumpkin spice season and promises of colder weather, it looks as though the summer heat is finally behind us. If you’re like me, this is great news for you. I personally thrive off of the fall season and colder climates as the leaves turn a menagerie of different colors. One common misconception of fall is that the frequent gray skies and the passing of days bring a feeling of monotony. But I can assure you, Autumn has just as much interest, if not more, of all the other seasons. Not just because of Halloween, but also because of the wild and spooky tales that come with the pumpkin-filled season. If you’re looking for a couple of spooky folktales to share with your family, you’ve come to the right place.
Starting with a legend from right in the heart of Kansas, the Hutchinson Public Library. Ida Day Holzapel was the head librarian of the Hutchinson public library for quite some time in the 20th century. After her 17 years of non-consecutive service, she decided it was time for her to move on to greener pastures in the California public library system. Little did she know, the Golden State proved not to be as green as the Great Plains. She died in an auto accident on her first day of work and never made it to her librarian post. Some say she returned to the Hutchinson Public Library to watch over the people and books there once again. Just as she did when she was alive and well. So mind your books, children, lest you anger their keeper.
The next spooky story from the Plains comes from the town of Atchison, Kansas. In the place called, Molly’s Hollow at Jackson Park. It was in this place where a horrible crime occurred in the times of segregation and violent racism. Molly was tragically killed by racist individuals and is said to still haunt the woods of Jackson Park. Locals claim that if you scream into the Hollow it screams back. I don’t know about you, but I certainly won’t be visiting that place anytime soon.
In the town of Ellis, We have the Ellis Railroad Museum. A museum that features is a number of different train-related things. All throughout the year, model train enthusiasts can be seen gathering here. But the railroad isn’t the only thing that the museum has to offer. Back in the mid-20th century, this railroad station also served as a prison in the basement. That is until a flood in 1958 killed a prisoner there. It is said that even now you can still see his shadowy form moving throughout the windows, yet to receive justice.
Overall, Kansas has so many ghost stories to offer. Being smack dab in the middle of the plains allows a lot of room for stories of mystery and charm. There are many more stories from Kansas that are not addressed in this article. Like the legend of the Man in the Bel Aire Water Tower, or Theodorsia’s Bridge in Valley Center Kansas, or so many others still brewing today. It’s quite the spooky state we live in, and it’s certainly well worth exploring. Even if you don’t follow the spooky stories from your local folklore, at least do some Autumn season-themed stuff. Even if it’s something as simple as adventuring through pumpkin patches. This Fall, be sure to adventure into the unknown a little. After all, why not? Are you afraid of what you might find?

A Kansas gardener sued to sell fruit and honey. Now her town will allow urban farming.

By
Guest Columnist
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Ottawa city officials are trying to strike a balance between people who want to produce food and the interests of their neighbors.

Ottawa will now allow small-scale urban agriculture — a move designed to accommodate residents who want to raise chickens and to resolve a homeowner’s lawsuit over the right to sell fruit and honey.

City lawyer Blaine Finch said the goal is to let residents produce food in their yards without impinging on the welfare of their neighbors.

“Frankly, agriculture is one of the original activities in this area,” Finch told city commissioners at a recent meeting. “The city hall is built on the site of Tauy Jones’ wild berry patch … It’s as old as the community, if not older.”

The rules allow small-scale farming in neighborhoods, as long as it doesn’t create nuisances like bad odors or lots of customers visiting residential streets.

The change is a victory for Ellen Finnerty, a fruit gardener and aspiring beekeeper who sued the city earlier this year.

She had been working on a backyard orchard for a few years and taking community college classes on beekeeping. Her goal is to sell fruit and honey at a local farmer’s market.

But Ottawa’s codes didn’t allow that. The rules banned people from running home businesses that involve animals. They also appeared to prohibit so much as selling a tomato grown in your backyard.

Not anymore.

The commission voted last week in favor of a suite of codes that acknowledge urban agriculture and set rules for it.

The new rules allow people to keep hens for egg-laying. They also set guidelines for beekeeping.

And the rules distinguish urban farming from other kinds of animal-related work. That means it will now be legal to take homegrown honey and eggs to the farmer’s market.

Some other kinds of animal businesses, such as at-home dog kennels, remain banned.

Finnerty was scared that the city’s previous rules put her at risk of fines or jail. She challenged the rules with representation from the Kansas Justice Institute — the legal arm of the Kansas Policy Institute, a small-government think tank.

Her lawyer argued the city’s rules violated the Kansas Constitution, which guarantees the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Ottawa’s lawyer asked the judge in a filing to throw out Finnerty’s case. But the filing also signaled city officials were open to changing the codes. It said officials were already working to address public requests to allow chicken coops.

The city entered talks with the Kansas Justice Institute to resolve her lawsuit.

Now that the commission has approved urban farming codes, the institute put out a press release calling the change a victory.

The city, to its great credit, understood there wasn’t a good reason to prevent Ellen from starting her home-based business,” said Sam MacRoberts, the group’s litigation director.

Advocates for buying and growing food locally say that urban farming can provide fresh food with fewer transportation costs and carbon dioxide emissions.

Some cities are tweaking their rules to accommodate that.

Lawrence changed its codes in 2016 to loosen rules for residential crops and allow beekeeping and sales of honey and other homegrown foods. Indiana, meanwhile, struck down all municipal beekeeping bans in 2019.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen is the environment reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at celia (at) kcur (dot) org.

Most Recognized Successful Horse Trainer Dean Smith Passes Away

By
Frank Buchman
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The world has lost one of the most renowned horse trainers.
Dean Smith passed away September 20, 2023, at Council Grove, Kansas.
 Whatever the occasion anywhere in the United States and beyond, mention the name Dean Smith and anybody with horse interests would share their most positive affiliations with the horseman.
Marvin Dean Smith was born January 6, 1933, in Valencia, Kansas, to Robert and Rinda Smith. Dean, the youngest of four brothers Harley, Fred, and Robert Jr. graduated from Silver Lake High School.
While in school, Dean enjoyed playing football, as he was quite the runner. There were many who raced against him, but few could ever beat Dean in a foot race.
On October 17, 1954, Dean married Donna Gifford from Burlingame. Next year would have marked 70 years of their marriage.
Son Rickie Dean, and daughter Catherine Kay were born in 1955 and 1958, respectively. After a brief stint of working at the Goodyear plant in Topeka, Dean returned to his true calling, training horses.
Those who have ever owned or ridden a Dean Smith trained horse are forever grateful that he followed his heart. His first professional training job was riding Morgan horses for Stuart Hazard at Wakarusa, Kansas. In 1961, the family moved to Eureka, Kansas, where Dean trained Quarter Horses for the Sutton Ranch.
Building his reputation as a professional horse trainer, Dean moved his family to Hutchinson, Kansas, where he rented a training facility. In 1967, Dean purchased his own facility at Council Grove.
The year 1969 is considered a milestone in more than one way for Dean Smith. In March, the family added the final member, daughter Tricia Rae. Later that same year, Dean won the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity aboard Miss Sue Skip.
He followed up this win by taking the mare back the next year to win the NRHA Derby, a feat that had not been duplicated by any trainer until recent years. These monumental wins helped solidify Dean Smith as one of the top all-around horse trainers in the country.
With additional top performance horses throughout the 1970s, Dean decided to leave the all-around show horse world behind and started focusing primarily on training cutting horses.
Many of the bloodlines that are showing today can be traced back to horses that Dean Smith raised, trained, and/or showed. With more than 60 years of training horses in multiple disciplines, it would be impossible to list all the lines of horses that graced Dean Smith’s barns and were trained by his hands.
Dean took great pride in his horses, which everybody could tell when he unloaded them at a show. They were “showstoppers” and everything, tack included, would normally turn heads.
Just a few of the great horses trained by Dean Smith include Harlans Tyree, Docs Eldorado, Docs Tom Thumb, Docs Chita, Keeners Skip, Deans Choice, Ottago, Go Comet, Imapeppysandoc, Smart Mate, Peppy Sandorado, and Smart Alexa.
Exhibitor of multiple world and state titles, Dean was inducted into the Kansas Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2008. He also traveled and offered clinics to help people better understand their horses.
Recognized as “The Trainer’s Trainer,” other top trainers sought his advice and wisdom. But Dean was just as eager to share his knowledge with the weekend rider who wanted a nice horse to enjoy.
An “icon” in the horse industry, Dean Smith’s loyal customers and friends made through the years is “nothing short of amazing.”
As Dean got older, he realized there was life beyond horses that being four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, all his pride and joy.
 Dean loved going to their soccer games, baseball games, and would spend time coaching horseback riding. When Dean could not be somewhere in person, he enjoyed watching all the family videos and pictures. Jessie Prichard is following in his grandpa’s footsteps as a professional horse trainer.
As Dean eased into retirement, he enjoyed spending time downtown having coffee and a sweet treat or his favorite chips and salsa. With his contagious smile, Dean loved to sit and visit with people.
Dean was proceeded in death by his son, Rickie Dean; his brothers, Harley, Fred, and Robert, Jr.; and his parents, Robert and Rinda Smith.
He is survived by his wife Donna Smith of the home, daughter Cathy (John) Pritchard of Council Grove, daughter Tricia (Mark) Hickey of Council Grove, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life with lunch and remembrances of Dean Smith will be October 15, 2023, 1 o’clock, at the 4-H Building, Council Grove.
Memorials have been designated in Dean Smith’s name to the Kansas Quarter Horse Youth Association (KQHYA) or USD 417 Athletics and can be sent to Sawyer Funeral Home at Council Grove.
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